Theatre
will always be a part of my work, because it is a part of me,” says
Sally (Nunn) Juarez (B.A., Speech and Drama, ’66; M.A., Drama, ’69).
As the associate of drama at Montclair Presbyterian Church near
Oakland, California, Juarez uses her talent and passion for theatre
to create what she calls “healing drama.”

“When one tells his or her story of a painful
experience to a caring and supportive group of people who ‘bear
witness’ to the pain, the result is a liberation from that pain,
and a ‘healing’ takes place,” explains Juarez. Healing begins not
only in the person whose story is told, says Juarez, but in the
heart of the listener as well, who has his or her own burden and
can identify with the suffering of another. “We gain compassion
for our brothers and sisters when we walk in their shoes,” she says.

Montclair Presbyterian, like many other churches,
would like to expand its role in the community; involving people
in dramatic productions, from set building to acting, is one way
to reach more people. Juarez had scheduled auditions for a church
production for Sept. 11. “Understandably, no one showed up,” she
says, adding that she believes the need for healing drama became
more urgent. “The community needed to share their fears, as well
as their hopes for the world, about the new reality we were facing.”
Juarez invited people of all ages from the church’s congregation
to write poetry, prose, or dramatic monologue about the events of
Sept. 11 and their aftermath. “Combined with liturgical dance, prayer,
and music, we had a special Sunday morning ‘healing drama,’ which
helped us move forward,” says Juarez.

In May 2001, Juarez received a master of divinity
from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. As she awaits the privilege
of leading a church of her own, she is pursuing one of her greatest
interests—“interfaith dialogue”—for which, she says, the need has
intensified after Sept. 11, as people of different faiths seek to
understand one another.

“The church, synagogue, and mosque offer membership
in an ‘extended family,’ ” notes Juarez, “as well as a tangible
way to put faith into action by working with others for the common
good of all human beings.”

Juarez says she is also drawn to multicultural
communities, and, as always, she would like to use her creative
gifts in her ministry. As for the future, “I am waiting to find
out where it all takes me,” she says.